Skip to content
TechBone
Samsung

Samsung: Turn Open-Eyes Requirement On or Off for Face Recognition

If your Samsung phone unlocks with Face recognition even when your eyes are closed, the open-eyes requirement is probably switched off. On some devices it works the other way around, and the phone refuses to unlock unless your eyes are wide open, which gets annoying if you wear glasses or are half asleep. Both behaviors trace back to a single toggle in the security settings.

4 min5 steps
Version

Step by step

1 / 5

Step 1 of 5: Tap on **Settings**

1

Tap on Settings

Live simulator

Android 11 · One UI 3
Turn Open-Eyes Requirement for Face Recognition On or Off – One UI 3: step 1 – Tap on Settings
Tap on Settings
1 / 5

Scroll or use the buttons for the next step

Feedback

Was the guide correct?

Help others: confirm the path or report a problem.

66

Confirmations

Forum verified this path

Samsung

Turn Open-Eyes Requirement for Face Recognition On or Off auf Samsung

Face recognition on Samsung phones can unlock the device even while your eyes are shut, unless the open-eyes requirement is active. This setting forces the camera to detect open eyes before it accepts a match, which closes an obvious security gap: anyone could otherwise unlock your phone while you are asleep or unconscious just by holding it up to your face.

On most Samsung devices this option is enabled by default. If you notice your phone unlocking too easily, or if the feature feels too strict for your daily use, you can change it manually.

Where to find the setting

Open SettingsBiometrics and securityFace recognition. Enter your current Pattern, PIN, or Password to confirm your identity, then toggle Require open eyes on or off.

Turning it off speeds up unlocking in low light or when you are wearing certain glasses, but it lowers the security bar. Turning it on adds a check but can fail more often for people with droopy eyelids, some medical conditions, or heavy makeup around the eyes.

If Face recognition keeps failing entirely, this toggle will not help. That points to a different issue, such as poor lighting, a dirty front camera, or a face model that needs to be re-registered.

Frequently asked questions

Face recognition can still misread reflections, glasses, or motion blur as open eyes. If this happens repeatedly, delete the stored face data under SettingsBiometrics and securityFace recognitionRemove face data and register your face again in good lighting.

Compatible devices

Tap your device — opens its hub with matching guides.

Android 11 · One UI 3

No compatible devices are listed for this version.